Electric Trim vs. Manual Trim

vasrv7a · #1 08-30-2010, 08:38 AM

I will soon be upgrading/converting my RV-7A from VFR to IFR. I currently have MANUAL elevator and aileron trims which I like and I'm very comfortable using (they work well and I have had little to no maintenance issues). It was suggested (for IFR) that I upgrade both trims to ELECTRIC. I am concerned about not having the precise trim control (using ELECTRIC TRIM) that I now have with MANUAL, and I am concerned about ongoing maintenance (trim servo) issues that may become problematic. I would appreciate comments, suggestions and recommendations regarding whether to keep the trims manual or upgrade to electric. Also, which electric trim servos are people using that have given good performance with little or no maintenance issues.

Thanx very much.

Victor

Greg Arehart · #2 08-30-2010, 08:42 AM

Victor,

My two cents (but as a non-IFR pilot) would be that if you are comfortable with the manual trim, just leave it that way. The only reason (in my mind) to have the electric would be having the switches on the stick.

greg

Sam Buchanan · #3 08-30-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vasrv7a

I currently have MANUAL elevator and aileron trims which I like and I'm very comfortable using (they work well and I have had little to no maintenance issues).

Thanx very much.

Victor

So.....tell us again why you would want to make a change...?

L.Adamson · #4 08-30-2010, 09:02 AM

Electric from the beginning.................and it's been a pleasure of perfection. What else can I say...

My Ray Allen joystick has a four way hat switch.

L.Adamson -- RV6A

vasrv7a · #5 08-30-2010, 09:15 AM

Sam,

It was suggested that due to the heavier workload flying in an IFR environment, Electric trim would be an advantage...

I am asking for comments from others with IFR experience in IMC.

Thanx.

Victor

Sam Buchanan · #6 08-30-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vasrv7a

Sam,

It was suggested that due to the heavier workload flying in an IFR environment, Electric trim would be an advantage...

I am asking for comments from others with IFR experience in IMC.

Thanx.

Victor

I would prefer to fly the systems I am familiar with and trust. There will plenty of new stuff to learn while getting the rating.

L.Adamson · #7 08-30-2010, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

I would prefer to fly the systems I am familiar with and trust. There will plenty of new stuff to learn while getting the rating.

FWIW, there are plenty of RV owners around here, who have electric trim. It's simple, and doesn't require the hand to be moved from the stick. In fact, you'll probably keep the aircraft in trim more often, just because of the convience. It's just a simple blip of the button or hat switch. Very simple. My 6A trims extremely well. It uses the hinged tab method on the aileron, with no bias spring. I'd even do it that way on a 7, 8, or 9. Even if it meant building in a tab for looks.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

Rick6a · #8 08-30-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vasrv7a

..... I would appreciate comments, suggestions and recommendations regarding whether to keep the trims manual or upgrade to electric.

You might as well be asking who was the superior fighting force,....the Hittites versus the Egyptians at Kadesh or the Carthaginians versus the Romans during the first Punic War. History is always written by the winner and at present, ELECTRIC trim fans are still engaged in pitched battle with the slaves of manual labor, er trim....over who really does possess the superior system....manual or electric? Times change, but people never do. So the best advice I can offer you is to pick your battles carefully because in the end, no matter what you may believe or think, there will always be those who strongly believe HIS system is superior...and will not hesitate to quickly inform you so.

rvbuilder2002 · #9 08-30-2010, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.Adamson

FWIW, there are plenty of RV owners around here, who have electric trim. It's simple, and doesn't require the hand to be moved from the stick.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

The standard manual trim on all side by side RV's doesn't require you to move your hand from the stick to adjust either axis. You use the same hand you use for throttle, mixture, prop RPM, to write notes, change altimiter setting, change avionics settings/freq. ,etc.
I like my manual trims, and I don't think the work load would be any different flying IFR (though I do not do that).

L.Adamson · #10 08-30-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick6a

You might as well be asking who was the superior fighting force,....the Hittites versus the Egyptians at Kadesh or the Carthaginians versus the Romans during the first Punic War. History is always written by the winner and at present, ELECTRIC trim fans are still engaged in pitched battle with the slaves of manual labor, er trim....over who really does possess the superior system....manual or electric? Times change, but people never do. So the best advice I can offer you is to pick your battles carefully because in the end, no matter what you may believe or think, there will always be those who strongly believe HIS system is superior...and will not hesitate to quickly inform you so.

Yes, Rick even put a constant speed prop on his new RV8.........'cause I
I told him so....

His prior plane has fixed pitch.

But other than that, the opinions expressed on this forum, are always just from those who are most vocal, and may or may not present the majority.

In fact, at the end of the day......You might be so confused, that you'll wonder why you even asked..

L.Adamson --- RV6A